Having a Party
Group forms to elect students to government

By ANGELA J. GATES
Collegian Staff Writer

When most students hear the term "keg party," they might think of weekends and free alcohol, but not politics.

All that could change, though, with the recent formation of the Keg Party, a new student group which wants to "stop the police crackdown on drinking" and elect students to local government positions, according to their goals.

The party will run four students for State College Borough Council this November, said Robert Hyneman (junior-letters, arts and sciences), founding member of the Keg Party. Although about 75 students signed the petition to form the group, only about 25 are active members, Hyneman added.

The students would replace the borough council members who are up for re-election this year, Hyneman said.

Instead of running its candidates on an independent ticket, the club decided to form the Keg Party because "we want the students to know exactly what we stand for," said Kevin Trychta (junior-chemical engineering), a club member.

The State College Police Department focuses too much attention on student drinking and not on other issues such as arson, domestic violence, burglary and theft, Hyneman said.

State College Police Chief Tom King said, however, much of the crime that occurs in State College is related to drinking.

"Based on statistics," he said, "we know much of our crimes between the hours of 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. are alcohol-related."

If alcohol abuse is curbed, the crime rate will likely drop, he said.

Focusing too much on alcohol may not reflect well on the group's other policies, said Melissa Kowalski (sophomore-English), College Republicans president.

Most students would probably support the group, but focusing on alcohol as a main concern is not a good enough reason to elect them, she said.

"I have a huge respect for the Penn State student body as a whole," said Jean McManis, council president. "I would be cruelly disappointed if this platform appealed to the majority of Penn State students."

In addition, the Keg Party plans to address zoning reform, which would help the environment, Hyneman said.

Every time the borough stops a high-rise from being built, limits the size of a building or puts up diverters, there is more suburban sprawl, said Jason Dalenberg, a local resident and part-time student.

Zoning is a complicated issue, said borough manager Peter Marshall.

"Allowing apartments downtown is only one issue in terms of planning and development," he said.

The Undergraduate Student Government officially recognized the Keg Party Sunday night as a student organization. Voters can not yet register as members of the Keg Party because Pennsylvania election law has not recognized the group.

• Students urged to participate in local affairs